Cover Image: The Boneyard

The Boneyard

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Member Reviews

A book filled with a coterie of great characters and a good plot. The Boneyard was a very interesting read. Does not disappoint.

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I couldn’t get enough of this book, it had a different feel to the other books I have read in this genre, I loved how much detail went into the story and also the Cherokee history & beliefs, it was fascinating and really added something extra special to the story. I hope that there is more details of the Cherokee history and beliefs in the other books Loretta has done. There were quite a few moments where I had to hold my breath because of how nerve wrenching the story became, I just couldn’t put the book down and didn’t want it to end. There were a few times where I thought I knew who the murder was but then that all changed in just a turn of the page.


There is also a lovely recipe for watermelon soup at the very end of the book, which is a lovely surprise as it is mentioned in the book a few times, throughout the book there is also quite a few mouthwatering meals, which always made me hungry as they were described in such wonderful detail.


The first thing that drew me to this book was the front cover, it really drew me in as it was so haunting and detailed, it made me pick out the book from all the rest.


When Tullah’s black lab brings her the remains of a skeleton hand, she immediately tells her dad, who also happens to be the town sheriff. When the investigation leads Tullah and her father into the swamp land, they find 11 graves with the bodies of women who have gone missing over the years. With Tullah’s Cherokee heritage she receives messages from the women urging her to find their killer. Sadly nothing is ever easy and there are more than a few obstacles for Tullah to face before she can lay these souls to rest. Thankfully with the help of her family, friends & also a great barred owl who becomes a messenger for Tullah and the poor women who have died, she might just be able to solve the mystery behind the brutal murders.

I would highly recommend this book as it was so so good, I can’t wait to read the other two books that Loretta has written in this series, I really hope she writes more.

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It's always a pleasure discover an original and well written cozy series featuring an unusual character. This is one of those books you're happy to read because I loved Tallulah and loved the well written plot that mixes paranormal, Native lore, and mystery.
The plot flows and kept me guessing.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

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The Boneyard is the second Doc Holiday mystery by Loretta C. Rogers. Released 20th April 2022, it's 308 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

Dr. Tullah Holliday is a veterinarian who winds up assisting a state and national investigation when her labrador brings her a skeletal hand he found. It doesn't take much time before more burial sites are found in the same area and the hunt turns toward putting the victims to rest and giving some closure to their families.

The author is adept at characterization and setting. There's an oppressive and very creepy atmosphere through a lot of the book which ratchets up the tension. It's a fast read and very engaging. There's also a significant paranormal element which ties into the Cherokee belief system and Dr. Holliday's own intuitions and insights as the investigation proceeds.

It's quite melancholy in places, but the denouement and resolution are satisfying and well wrought.With three books extant in the series at this point, it would be a good choice for a weekend binge or buddy read.

Four and a half stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

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Wow! Are you looking for a book with a creepy vibe. Then this book is for you. It has all the proper elements of a creepy drama. There are bones, ghosts, danger and murder.

This book has a interesting cast of characters. Doc Holliday, yes a actual relative of the gunslinger, lives in Enigma, KY. She is a veterinarian to large and small animals. She was once a forensics expert, but switched since alive animals are better than dead humans. But that is not all that is special about Doc. She is what you would say sensitive to the unknown. Special.

This book will start off with a discovery of human skeletal remains in a cursed swamp. The story continues on as Doc Holliday tries to uncover the truth of what happened. She must listen to the spirits in order to stay alive.

This book has triggers in abuse and drug addiction. It is a well written mystery with a slight twist at the end. I love the Cherokee spin on the MC and her family. It really puts an interesting spin on the book and its characters. I also love the cursed land and ghost story behind it. It was original and creepy.

This is the first Doc Holliday book I have read and I found it to be good as a standalone read. Yet I think this may be a second or third book in the series. I really want to look into that, as I am interested in reading more of her adventures.

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This book was fantastic. I was hooked from the first page and the cover art is beautiful. I love that the main character is a vet who is part Cherokee and with empathic abilities. It's is a must read!!
I just reviewed The Boneyard by Loretta C. Rogers. #TheBoneyard #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

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recipes, veterinarian, law-enforcement, empathic, Cherokee, amateur-sleuth, swamp, cultural-heritage, friction, friends, friendship, frustration, family, relatives, small-town, rural, abduction, serial-murder, series, supernatural, superstitions, cold-case, abuse, abusive-spouse, pets, Labrador-dog, forensics, forensic-anthropology, unputdownable, triggers,*****

Tullah (Doc) Holliday is a (primarily) large animal veterinarian in a rural area of Kentucky. She lives in a house on her own land which is adjacent to a swamp with an evil history and is still known for poisonous snakes and possibly quicksand. While out in that swamp with her Labrador, they come across the first skeletal remains. Tullah was once very good in her studies in Forensics. Until her own mother was murdered. So she switched to veterinary medicine but kept many of her close friends. This and her Cherokee gifts are the basis for the complicated processes that fill this riveting story. I have not yet read the first in series, but I will now!
I requested and received an EARC from The Wild Rose Press, Inc via NetGalley. Thank you!

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This is a frightfully wholesome book.
After a dog and a donkey find a few bones, and a skull, a veterinarian and a whole team of professionals and community members team up to solve the mystery. The whole community sounds wonderful.
Although one "helpful" cop was literally the worst. That was some good writing.
And if I don't get a donkey after reading this book I swear I will die of heartbreak.
I love all of the information provided about, well everything, and the cultural representation of all these different characters.
I will definately be reading more from this author.

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271 pages

4 and 1 / 2 stars

This is a wonderful novel. It is my first Loretta Rogers book, but it certainly won’t be my last. I immediately went to Amazon to look at her other Dr. Tullah Holliday novels. I must read them.

Ms. Rogers has a very real talent for writing. It was a pleasure to read this book. It reads quickly, with just enough tension to keep the story moving along nicely. I like how the main characters’ backstories are embedded in the story so seamlessly. It is always my wish to get to know the protagonists’ stories. I also appreciated the inclusion of the Cherokee beliefs, customs and legends. Adding the scenes where Tullah cares for her animal patients is another bonus.

When eleven women’s bodies are discovered in the swamp adjacent to Tullah’s property, her father Sheriff Henry Holliday jumps into action. Also introduced are Tullah’s incomparable auntie, and a host of other engaging characters. Who are these women and who killed them? Why have there been no local disappearances?

The swamp is said to be haunted. Tullah senses the restless spirits who need releasing from the swampland. An owl assists her.

The identity of the killer is a surprise - and it isn’t.

I want to thank NetGalley and The Wild Rose Press, Inc. for forwarding to me a copy of this absolutely wonderful book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.

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This is the 2nd book of Doc Holliday Mystery series, it can be read as stand alone. My first in this series and this book is good, i really get enchant with the story.

Tullah have strong instincts, she can feel something important and dangerous approach, one day when she enjoy nice ice tea with her grandma, her strong instinct attact and then her dog bring skeleton hand. She report it to her father the sheriff, the next day they are looking for the rest of skeleton, closer to the place Tullah feel something whisper to her "I’m here. We’re all here. Find us. Please find us" and they find it in swamp, Boneyard from homicides.

I love how the murder case include with spritual term, animal as a symbol from the victim, how wonderfull Tallulah family and friend accept her gift and belive in her. At the end the swamp homicides case really disturbing. I guess there is next book, i cant wait.

Thank you to NetGalley for provide this book, it is pleasure to review this book.

#TheBoneyard #DocHollidayMystery #LorettaCRogers #TheWildRosePress #BacklitPR #NetGalley #ARC

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4.25/5 stars! This is the second book in the "Doc Holliday Mystery" series. I picked this book up strictly because it sounds like it heavily featured a dog and dogs are the greatest. Add in the haunted/cursed aspect and this book had the makings of something unique and special. The writing really backed this up. The family was 3-dimensional and their intricacies, trials, and stressors were written with finesse.

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

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Native American vet Tullah Holliday's dog brings home a skeletal human hand. Soon that leads to eleven buried bodies. Tullah will try and help her Sheriff father find the killer. Great murder mystery with a bit of the super natural.

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